Indictment alleges man held bank employees hostage

Kim Smith

Monday, Feb. 5, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

A 30-year-old man was indicted Thursday on charges that he held seven bank employees hostage with the threat of nerve gas exposure Jan. 12.

According to the indictment, which was unsealed Friday, Luke Andrew Davis, 30, threatened to expose the employees at First Security Bank, 1620 E. Flamingo Road, to sarin gas if they did not wire $25,000 to a Canadian bank.

Davis was indicted on seven counts each of making threats using a biological device, first-degree kidnapping and second-degree kidnapping. He also was indicted for one count of burglary.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Schwartz said Davis could get as much as a life sentence if he's convicted.

Prosecutors maintain that Davis walked into the bank about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 and said he had canisters of the poisonous gas in a duffel bag.

Davis let each of the hostages go before giving himself up three hours later. The duffel bag contained personal belongings, but no gas.

Davis is scheduled to be arraigned by District Judge John McGroarty on Feb. 8. He is being held without bail in the Clark County Detention Center.